Does washing vegetables in hot water before cooking them make them lose their vitamins?
There may be a tiny bit more vitamin loss if the water is VERY hot and the washing period is prolonged. But most people just rinse briefly under lukewarm/cool water to remove pesticides and dirt. Cooking is actually where vitamin loss can occur, especially if the vegetables are boiled. Baking or broiling (especially if the vegetables are protected in foil or other wraps), will decrease the mineral loss. And, of course, salads, where raw vegetables are consumed, are the best. Overall, I wouldn’t worry too much about the hot water practice, unless it is really extreme. But even with boiling or a super hot wash, not all vitamins are lost, just decreased. So don’t let that discourage you from eating your veggies!
